Washington

Washington's Democrats
by Danielle Washington

           Washington is a state which is populated by 5.5 million people; It was admitted as a state in 1889. Washington has an area of 71,303 square miles and personal income per capita equals 26,718 dollars. The state capital is Olympia and the governor is Gary Locke, who is a Democrat.The leading industries are service, manufacturing, and retail trade industries. Presidentially, Washington leans toward the Democrats and in 1988 switched from a caucus system to primaries. Washington gained a seat in each of the two last censuses, and both new districts went to fast growing suburban areas east & south of Seattle.
            On the issue of Human and Civil Rights, the Washington Democrats believe in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in guaranteeing the equality of these rights is the “foundation” of freedom, justice, and peace in the world. They oppose discrimination in employment, housing, and education as well as public accommodations based on religion, race, gender, age, sexual orientation and disability. They believe that the essentials such as food, shelter, medical care, education and employment are basic human rights. The Washington Democrats also believe in ones sovereignty over their own body. They state that women’s rights and human rights are one in the same; women have right and responsibility in regards to their reproductive choice and private medical matters. According to the Washington Democrats, the state should not intervene or forbid same sex marriages. They support The Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1990 as well as affirmative action policies; Those who have been wronged and discriminated against should be given legal help to fight the injustice in a civil manner. They oppose mandatory prayer in public schools. They want the government to respect and honor Native American rights & treaties.
           The Washington Democrats on the issue of crime believe that it is the governments responsibility to stop or put an end to acts of crime by working together with communities to make their heighborhoods livable. They also think the people of any community should settle their differences in a non-violent fashion. They support public funding for successful substance abuse programs as opposed to prosecution.
            Education to the Washington Democrats is the foundation and first lesson of democracy. They feel it is the state’s duty to provide first-class education for all ;But they feel it is not the responsiblility of the state alone, it is also up to the parents and adults of the community to educate the children. They support full state funding for education from early childhood to the twelfth grade, also funding for higher education and adult vocational training. Washington Democrats say that our future rests upon strong public school systems.
           The Washington Democrats strongly support environmental protection laws. They support legislation, research and program funding to develop clean alternative energy sources and promote resource conservation. The Democrats want to encourage alternative means of transportation other than automobiles. They also support preservation of endangered species and the repeal of the 1872 Mining Law which banned cyanide leech mining on or in aquifers.
           On the issue health care, the Washington Democrats support basic health care for all regardless of age, employment status, or prior condition. They want to adopt a comprehensive health care system which includes disease prevention, treatment, and care for catastrophic illness and long-term care as well as Medicare, from prenatal care to the last years of life.
           On the issue foreign policy, Democrats support the United Nations plans for securing peaceful solutions to conflicts in other lands. They believe that the United States cannot and should not enforce world peace one-sidely. They oppose foreign policies that allow loss of American jobs without creating better jobs in the United States.
           Democrats feel economic justice for working families is essential for the realization of a democratic society. They state workers need and should have a safe and healthy work enviornment; they support the worker’s right to strike in order to end a dispute and a raise in minimum wage. The Washington Democrats support a progressive tax system at the federal and state levels; They also support tax reform that will shift the wealth back to the working class family and its community. They also feel that any reform of social security should ensure the same benefits, if not more, in a fair and universal manner.